Tributes pour in for Four Oaks' Pat Coutts UPDATED

Pat Coutts, who died on 30 August, was organiser of the Four Oaks trade show in Cheshire for half a century - read her obituary here.

Four Oaks' Christina Walker paid tribute: "‘Fancy a brew? You can have one of my good mugs,’ Pat said warmly from across the desk at my interview in 2007 and I knew I’d got the job! I instantly took to her down-to-earth Cheshire friendliness and a really special 14 year relationship began. This was after she’d cut to the chase about what was required to work with her on the Four Oaks Trade Show of course – high standards in everything and nothing less would do.

"These two traits really sum up the Pat I knew – she combined remarkable drive, a hard work ethos and consummate professionalism with extreme warmth, kindness and a good sense of humour. Pat gave everything to make the trade show a success and gleaned great pleasure from helping exhibitors with every aspect of their participation, leading the trade show culture in going above and beyond through example.

"She worked tirelessly to develop the event into a major international trade show, successfully bringing the horticulture industry together year on year and supporting businesses in the industry she loved. Their success was her greatest reward.

"Late on the Wednesday night of each show we would wind down, absolutely exhausted, enjoying stories of exhibitor’s triumphs and recalling the funny and sometimes not so funny events of that year’s show, relieved and satisfied that we had risen to the challenge of organising a major event. ‘We did it again!’ we’d say and hug. It was only ever a fleeting moment of reflection and emotion, because the next day it would be back to business clearing the site and discussing the following year’s plans. I will miss that hug intensely.

"I learned a great deal from Pat and was privileged to become so close to a very special, fearless, determined woman who carved out a career that deserves to make her a horticultural legend. I was due to visit Pat this week to finalise a statement announcing her retirement and a very well deserved Lifetime Achievement Award from Horticulture Week for services to horticulture. In a way it is fitting that we never got to release that statement – because Pat never wanted to retire! She often said ‘horticulture is for life’ and Pat happily dedicated hers to serving the horticultural industry.

"RIP Pat Coutts – friend, boss, mentor, inspiration."

LBS Horticulture  "Pat was one of the true greats within the Horticultural World and the pillar of the Four Oaks Trade Show, she will be dearly missed.  Our condolences go out to her family, friends and colleagues."

Kolff Plants Jacob Kolff said: "I have known Pat for a very long time. She was the best. We will miss her very much. My condolences to her family, friends and all at Four Oaks."

Plantline: "We were always warmly welcomed to the show by Pat, who without fail did her best to accomodate us each year, for which we are continually grateful. Our thoughts are with Pat’s family, friends and colleagues at this sad time, she will be greatly missed. Deepest sympathies from all the team at Plantline."

Ball Colegrave's Stuart Lowen said: "Pat called me last week from Macclesfield hospital to let me know she was waiting to head home for her last days and what she had planned ahead of this. It was an incredibly difficult conversation to have to say our final farewells to each other. But that was Pat, organised right up to the end.

"The whole team at Ball have been incredibly saddened by the tremendous loss of Pat. She was indeed one of the great characters who worked tirelessly on behalf of the industry. I knew Pat for her unbelievable warmth, helpfulness and cheeriness, no matter how much pressure she was personally under, she always put her friends, colleagues and exhibitors first - she was the true spirit for Four Oaks Trade Show. Pat immediately became a friend to anyone who had the pleasure of meeting her and will be dearly missed by so many across our industry. We send our deepest condolences to Pat's family."

Arno Rijnbeek of Rijnbeek Perennials said: "We are really thankful to her as she was a big help for us at the Four Oaks Show. Always there for a small talk, smile and a lot of help. If it was for the booth, electricity, website, advertising or getting the windows of the greenhouse closed or open during the show, it didn’t matter what she was always willing to help. We wish everyone around her a lot of strength in the time coming."

Mike Francis, Steve Collins and all the team at Suttons Nurseries said: "We are all so very sad to hear about the passing of Pat. We have some wonderful memories of Pat from our many years of exhibiting at Four Oaks. She will be greatly missed."

Grant Collier and former colleagues at Nexus Business Media said: "It is with great sadness to read this. We at Nexus Media worked with Pat when she helped develop several trade shows some 20 years ago and she was truly gifted and one of the kindest people you could hope to meet. She was also truly devoted to Four Oaks and will be greatly missed by all that knew her."

Neil Bragg said: " A really sad loss if a very special person who gave so much to our UK horticultural industry. Her ability to manage the show and look after all the exhibitors was outstanding, even down to the years when she arranged a nursery for very young children so exhibitors could still participate."

Garden Organic's Sally Cunningham said: "So sorry to hear about this, I had heard she was ill but had not appreciated just how seriously. Pat was always so friendly, helpful and welcoming to everybody at Four Oaks from its early beginnings to the huge event it became.